Coin controlled meter



Dec; 15, 1936.

s. L. MILLER com CONTROLLED METER Filed June 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. *15, 1936. MILLER com CONTROLLED METER Filed June 10, 1956 4' Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 15,1936. 5 MILLER 2,064,677

COIN CONTROLLED METER Filed June 10, 1956 4 she ets-sheet s 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 s. L. MILLER com Cowmopman METER Filed June 10, 1936 V g I 4 I 4 6 6 Dec. 15, 1936.

MJZ/a Patented Dec. 15, 1936 COIN CONTROLLED METER Samuel Lee Miller, Maywood, Ill.

Application June 10, 1936, Serial No. 84,533

In Great Britain February 25, 1935 14 Claims.

This invention relates to coin-actuated timecontrolled devices for dispensing various things or services which can be rented at a fixed rate per time unit, for instance per day or per week. Such devices are particularly intended for services employing electric current, for instance, radio broadcast service, telephone serviceand the like, in which case an electric switch or electric switchesmay be operated by the device by the insertion of one or more coins of predetermined sizes and values. I

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described employing a clock mechanism which is self-contained so that the user cannot stop it or tamper with its operation.

Another object isto provide a device of the character described which has the greatest possible flexibility in the number and combination of coins to be used, and of the elements, such as operating levers, electric switches and the like to be actuated thereby, as well as in the number and combinations of circuits to be closed by such switches.

With a view to attaining these objects the present invention provides a coin-actuated time-controlled device comprising a clock mechanism, a. coin-retaining member movable to an operative and an inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, and an element adapted to be held in an operative position by a coin supported by the retaining member when the latter is in operative position and to be released when the retaining member is in its inoperative position This device is adapted for the sale or lease of various apparatus giving services which are vendable on a time basis, and particularly apparatus employing electric current such as radio receivers, television sets, refrigerators, electric signs and the like.

One embodiment of the present invention, comprising a multiple coin, multiple switch arrangement is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the housing the device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation on the line 2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 isa similar section viewed on the line 3-3 but looking in the opposite direction;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the broken line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 5 but showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. '7 is a detail of the electric switch of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a partial front elevation of the device with the front removed, as viewed on line 8 of Fig. 5, showing the clock mechanism and parts controlled thereby; Fig. 9 is a similar view on the line 8 of Fig. 5 with the clock mechanism removed showing the slot closing bar, the coin retaining bar, and the key controlled lever;

Fig. 10 isa similar view on the line H) of Fig. 5 showing the slot closing bar, the coin retaining bar, and the clock controlled lever; I

Fig. 11 is a partial enlarged sectional view on the line H of Fig. 1;

Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive are partial vertical sectional views similar to Fig. 4 showing the coin slotand illustrating the path of the coin therethrough; and

Fig. 16 is a diagram of electric connections.

The device illustrated comprises a meter having a hollow housing 20 open at the back and adapted to be closed by a cover 2| which is secured therein in any desired manner, as by bolting the housing against a flat surface which retains the cover in place so that access cannot readily be had to the parts enclosed. within the housing. Within the bottom of the housing is located'a coin box 22 which has a series of coin openings 22 in the top, and which is closed at the rear but is open 'toward the front of the housing 20, which housing has an opening 23 immediately in front of the coin box which is closed by a cover 24 retained by means of a lock 25. A sheet 26 is preferably'carried by the cover and has instructions printed thereon for the operation of the meter.

A series of four coin slots 21 (Fig. 1) numbered i, 2, 3 and 3 from left to right, are provided in the front of the housing for the insertion of coins,

as will later be described in more detail. Back of these coin slots and between them lies a series of one or more switch blocks 28 which rest upon the top of the coin box 22, each of which has a rib 28 adaptedto engage any one of grooves 29 in the top of the coin box in order to position the switch-block with respect to the front of the housing to accommodate coins of different diameters, as will later be explained.

At the same time a rib 28 on the bottom of each switch block engages one of the grooves 30 in the top of the coin box. Similar ribs 28 and.

28 in the top of the switch block engages a' 33. Each switch block is positioned in the desired groove in the top of the coin box and in the corresponding grooves in the wedge plate, and the whole is then slid into place in the housing, the top of the housing having grooves for laterally positioning the plate 33.

Each switch block has at one side a coin ledge 34 which serves to space this coin block from the next adjacent block and to provide a passage 35 for coins. In Fig. 4 the coin block is set for the smallest sized coin. In order to set it for the next sine coin, the switch block together with the coin box and the wedge plate are removed and that particular switch block is reset into one of the sets of positioning grooves which will place that particular coin block at the desired distance from the front to provide a passage 35 of the desired width to accommodate the particular coin which it is desired shall be used.

At the same time the width of the coin slot 21 is similarly regulated, as shown in Fig. 2. This is done by providing at the back of the slot- 21 in the coin plate 36 a series of circular recesses 31 in any one of which may be placed a small button 38. Thus the button if placed in the center opening, as shown in the right-hand slot of Fig. 2, will effectually close this slot so that no coin can be inserted. By placing it in the other openings, however, or by omitting it entirely, the width of the slot is regulated for coins of different diameters.

Back of the series of coin slots 31 lies a slot closing bar 39 (Figs. 8, 9 and. 10) which is slidably mounted on pins 40, 4|, and having a series of notches 39 corresponding to the coin slots 21, so that when the slot closing bar is shifted to the left in the full line position shown in Fig. 9, these notches will correspond to the coin slots, thereby enabling the desired coins to be inserted. When, however, this bar is shifted to the right to the dotted line positioning of Fig. 9, these coin slots will be closed. The mechanism for shifting the bar 39 will now be described.

Levers 43 and 44 are hingedly mounted on a pin 45. The lever 43 carries a pin 59 which passes loosely through a slot 49 in the bar 39, and has a tension spring 5| connecting it with the bar. As the lever 43 is drawn to the dotted line position (Fig. 9) the spring 5| is tensioned, thereby drawing the bar 39 to the dotted line position against the action of the spring 41. On the lever 43 being returned to the full line position, the spring 41 draws the bar back to the full line position against the pin 49. The lever 44 is connected to the bar 39 through a spring 48 which tends to retract the lever, but the bar 39 is prevented from moving by the pin 56. The lower ends 43 and 44 of the levers 43 and-44 respectively, extend into slots 42 and 42 respectively, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 8.

The clock mechanism is shown in front elevation in Fig. 8 and comprises a framework 52 and a main spring 53 which is wound by means of a stem 54 having a squared end which is adapted to receive a key 55 (Fig. 11). The stem 54 carries a pinion 56 which meshes with a gear 51 which is mounted on a shaft (not shown) and which is driven by the clock mechanism at a very slow rate, so that it takes several days for this gear to make a single revolution. A dial 58 graduatedto correspond to days and. quarters of days is operably carried'by this gear and shows through an opening 59 in the front of the housing, as shown in Fig. 1. A pointer 66 indicates the position of this dial. The gear 51 also carries an annular disk 6| having an opening 62. A roller 63 carried by the lever 44 rides upon the outer periphery of this annular disk, as shown in full lines in Fig. 10, but this roller drops into the opening 62 when the dial 58 is in the zero position, as shown in Fig. 8. thereby permitting the lever 44 to move into the dotted.

line position of Fig. 10. This disk is provided with a series of tapped openings 64, each corresponding to a definite interval of time, say a quarter day on the dial 58. A pin 65 .having a threaded end is adapted to be screwed into one of these openings. When so inserted this pin encounters a stop 66 on the inside of the lever 44, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby limiting the amount to which the gear 51 and dial 58 can be wound.

When the clock mechanism, which is of a selfstarting type, has thus been wound and started, it will run until the annular disk turns to the point where the opening 62 lies in front of the roller 63 whereupon the spring 46 will shift the lever 44 inwardly and force the roller inward, shifting the slot closing bar to the dotted line position of Fig. 9 wherein the coin slots are closed, and shifting the coin retaining bar 42 to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 15 wherein the slots 42 coincide with the coin slots, thereby dropping the coins into the coin box below.

In inserting coins care must be taken to wind the clock fully and to remove the key, otherwise the coin cannot be inserted because of the bar 39. If the key is inserted while the dial is in any position other than the zero position, that is while coins are in the slots in the position shown in Fig. 14, the retaining bar will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 15. and all coins will drop into the coin box and the electrical circuits broken thus prematurely terminating the service.

Referring now to Figs. 9, 10, and-11, the key 55 is inserted through an opening 61 in the front of the housing 20 and as it passes inwardly it encounters the sloping surface 68 of the lever 43 and the sloping surface 69 of the lever 44, separating the same and moving the lever 43 from the full line position to the dotted line position of Fig. 9, at the same time moving the lever 44 of Fig. 10 to the full line position. If the clock dial is in the zero position before insertion of the key, the lever 44 will be in the dotted line position of Fig. 10 in which the roller 63 lies within the opening 62, as shown in Fig. 8. Insertion of the key therein moves the roller '63 out through the opening 62, so that the gear 51 can be turned to wind up the clock. The number of days or fractions thereof to which the clock mechanism can be wound is fixed by the position of the pin 65 which, as shown in Fig. 8, is four full days, that is sixteen multiples of one-fourth day each.

The retaining bar 42 is also controlled by the movements of the levers 43 and 44 acting through the extensions 43 and 44* in the slots 42 and 42 respectively, in the bar 42 (Figs. 5 and 6), and serves to control the coin within the slot. A plunger 16 is slidable back and forth through an opening 1| in the front of the housing, and carries a plate 12 having a series of upwardly projecting fingers 13, each of which lies between vertical guides 14 which serve to form vertical slots for the passage of the coin. The plate 12' tion shown in Fig. 6 by means of two springs 11. 75

The plunger 10 may be moved inwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, to force the coins to the position to actuate the switch mechanism, as will presently be described.

An electric switch it is carried in a suitable electric leads 8t, 82, secured thereto by means of rivets 83, til, respectively. A switch arm 85 is mounted to oscillate about a pin 86, and carries a metal button 871 which in the position shown 'in Fig. 7 is out of contact with both the head of the rivet 83 and the spring arm 8d carried by the rivet B l. When, however, the arm 85 is moved to the right, the button 81 will make electric connection between the head of the rivet $3 and the spring 8%. A switch lever 88 is secured to a switch operating member 89 which is rotatable upon the pin 8%. A spring Q operably connects the member 8% with the arm 85 so that as the lever 8% moves back and forth past to the center, the spring 9t will snap the arm 85 from open position to closed position, or vice -versa. The switch lever 88, as shown in Fig. 4, has a spring ill which normally holds the lever in the position of Fig. I wherein the switch is open. .The spring at is sufiiciently strong to overcome the action of the spring 9.

When an appropriate coin A (Figs. 3 and 12) is inserted through one of thecoin slots Zl, it falls through the passage guided by the ledge 34%, through the position A to the position A, in which it rests on the retaining bar t2 as in Fig. 3, or it may rest on the switch lever 88, as in Fig. 12. After an-appropriate coin has been inserted in each of the coin slots, the operator then pushes the plunger It thereby forcing the coin from the position A through to position A (Fig. 13) to the position A (Fig. 14) in which position it is held between the lower end of the switch lever 88, the edge $2 of the retaining bar, and a pin 92 on the side of the switch block. When the plunger is withdrawn the coin is held in place under tension of the spring 90. Ioo small a coin, it inserted, will not operate the switch or may drop into the coin box.

It will be understood that before inserting the coins, the operator has first fully wound the clock mechanism until it is stopped by means of the pin 65 which represents the time contracted for. In other words, the pin 65 is set for the par-.

'ticular time contracted for, whether one day or any other predetermined number of days, and the buttons 38 are then placed in the coin slots 27 (Fig. 2) in the appropriate positions to admit of the insertion of coins corresponding to the time contracted for. At the same time the agent sets each coin block in the notches 29, 3t, 3t and 32 (Fig. 4) to correspond to the appropriate distance to provide a coin slot of the proper width to accommodate the coin to be inserted therein. Thus the coin slots illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 show the first coin slot at the left of Fig. 1 .closed, so that no coin can be inserted. The second slot indicates a nickel, the third a quarter, and the fourth slot a nickel. To operate this device it therefore becomes necessary that a nickel be placed in the second and fourth coin slots, and that a quarter be placed in the third coin slot in order that the device may be operated, since the switches controlled by coins in the second, third and fourth coin slots may be placed in series, under one condition of operation, as will 1 later be described in connegtion with the wiring diagram of Fig. 16.

. Having inserted all of the coins the user then pushes the plunger Ill, thereby placing all the coins in the position of the coin A (Fig. 14) wherein each coin holds its switch lever 88 in a position wherein its switch is closed. Referring now to Fig. 16, if it is intended that the user shall be entitled to radio reception from a service or wire as X only, the switches 18 and 78*, each of which is controlled by a coin, may be ,wired in series as shown, a hand-operated switch 93' serving to turn on the radio receiver or loudjr speaker at will. A wire M then connects these? switches with a suitable loud speaker or radio receiver 95 as the case may be. and thence to ground, or to return wire through a lead 96. While the coin controlled meter here shown has particular application for use in connection with the sale or lease of a radio receiver or loud speaker, it will be understood that it can be used also for the sale or lease on a time basis of various other services, such as refrigerators, telephones, electric signs, and the like.

Numerous arrangements may be made of the switches and of the coin slots for the coin controlling each switch, the one shown in Fig. 16

' being illustrative only. Thus, let us assume that there are two radio services, one coming in on the wire Xand the other on the wire Y, and the user has the use of the wire X which is obligatory a weekly fee of say a quarter and a nickel, and in addition has the option of taking the other service Y for an additional fee of a nickel.

One of the nickel switches and the quarter switch are wired in series with the center post of the double throw switch 93 so that the user can be connected to the wire X. The wire Y, however, is not connected unless. he also places a nickel in the other nickel slot. In that case he can have either the X or the Y program} by moving the hand-operated switch 93. ,1

Each coin slot may be designed to take several sizes of coins, Figs. 1 and 2, for example, being designated to take a dime, a nickel, and a quarter. These can be combined to cover a great number of coin combinations ranging all the way from a nickel to several dollars, while the clock can automatically deliver a service from six hours to seven days by quarter day intervals. A very flexible servicing device for use in selling or licensing apparatus of this character is thus provided.

I claim:

1. A coin-actuated time-controlled device comprising a clock mechanism, a coin-retaining member movable to an operative and an inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, and a coin-ejecting element adapted to be held in an operative position by a coin supported by the retaining member when the latter is in operative position and to eject the coin when the retaining member is in its inoperative position.

2. A coin-actuated time-controlled device com prising a clock mechanism, coin-controlled apparatus including a coin slot for each coin of'a number of coins, a .coin retaining member located adjacent each slot and movable to operative or inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, an independently movable element for each slot adapted to be held in a certain position by a coin held in a predetermined position by the coin retaining member in erative position oi the coin retaining member, means connecting said elements for series operation and a coin box to hold the coins released.

3. A coin-actuated time-controlled electric switching device comprising a clock mechanism, coin controlled apparatus including a coin slot for each coin of a number of coins, a coin retaining member located adjacent each'slot and movable. to operative or inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, two or more electric switches connected for series operation and each held closed .by a coin held in a predetermined position by the coin retaining member in the operative position and released in the inoperative position of the coin retaining member, and a coin box--to hold the coins released.

4. A coin-actuated time-controlled device comprising a clock mechanism, coin-controlled apparatus including a coin slot for each coin of a number of coins, a coin retaining member located in each slot and movable to operative or inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, an element held in a certain position by a coin supported by the coin retaining member in the operative position and released in the inoperative position of the coin retaining member, a coin box to hold the coins released, and a member controlled by the clock mechanism to close the coin slots when the clock is in zero or inoperative position or by a key for the clock mechanism when the key is inserted.

5. A coin-actuated time-controlled electric switching device comprising a clock mechanism, coin controlled apparatus including a coin slot for each coin of a number of coins, a coin retaining member located in each slot and movable to operative or inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, one or more electric switches each held closed by a coin held in a predetermined position by the coin retaining member in the operative position and released in the inoperative position of the coin retaining member, a coin box to hold the coins released, and a bar controlled by the clock mechanism to close the coin slots when the clock is in zero or inoperative position or by a key for the clock mechanism when the key is inserted.

6. The switching device according to claim 3, characterized by a switch block having means forming the inner-side of each coin slot and having an electric switch contained therein with a switch lever lying in the path of the coin in the slot and having its axis at the inner side of the coin slot so that a proper coin in the coin slot may operate the switch lever, the switch block being adjustable relative to the outer side of the coin slot to provide coin passages of diflerent widths to accommodate coins of diiferent diameters.

'7. A coin-actuated time-controlled device comprising a clock mechanism, a coin-retaining member movable to an operative and an inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, and an element adapted to be held in an operative position by a coin supported by the retaining member when the latter is in operative position and to be released when the retaining member is in its inoperative position, and means for forcing a coin into operative engagement with the element and for retaining the coin in such position under pressure exerted by the element.

8. A coin-actuated time-controlled device comprising a clock mechanism. coin-controlled apparatus including a coin slot for each coin of a number of coins, a coin retaining member located in each slot and movable to operative or inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, an element in each slot adapted to be held in a certain position by coins held in predetermined positions by the coin retaining member in the operative position and released in the inoperative position of the coin retaining member, a coin box to hold the coins released, and means for simultaneously forcing each coin into said predetermined positions on the retaining member and holding said coins under pressure from its switch lever whereby each switch is held closed by a coin.

9. A coin-actuated time-controlled device comprising a clock mechanism, a coin-retaining member movable to an operative and an inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, means'adjustable to a predetermined setting to receive and deliver a coin of required dimension to said retaining member, an element adapted to be held in an operative position by a required coin supported by the retaining member when the latter is in operative position and to be released when the retaining member is in its inoperative position, the clock mechanism having means operable for a given coin set ting to limit the maximum time for which the clock mechanism may be wound to run.

10. A coin-actuated time-controlled device comprising a clock mechanism, coin-controlled apparatus including a coin slot for each coin of a number of coins, a coin retaining member located in each slot and movable to operative or inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, an element held in a. certain position by a coin held in a predetermined position by the coin retaining member in the operative position and released in the inoperative position of the coin retaining member, means for adjustably supporting said element for operation by a coin of desired dimension, and a coin box to hold the coins released, the clock mechanism having an adjustable stop for limiting the maximum time for which the clock mechanism may be wound to run for a desired coin setting of said element.

11. A coin-actuated time-controlled device comprising a clock mechanism, a coin-retaining member movable to an operative and an inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, means for setting said clock mechanism into operation for a predetermined period of time, means operable by said last mentioned means for moving said coin retaining member into inoperative position, whereby the clock setting means cannot be controlled by the user except by moving the coin retaining member to the inoperative position and an element adapted to be held in an operative position by a coin supported by the retaining member when the latter is in operative position and to be released when the retaining member is in its inoperative position.

l2. A coin-actuated time-controlled device comprising a clock mechanism, coin-controlled apparatus including a coin slot for each coin of a number of coins, a slot closing member, a coin retaining member located in each slot and movable to operative or inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism, means for setting said clock mechanism into operation for a predetermined period of time, means operable by said last mentioned means for operating said 75 slot closing means and moving said coin retaining member to inoperative position. whereby the clock setting means cannot be controlled by the user except by moving the coin retaining and slot closing members to inoperative positions, an element held in a certain position by a coin held in a predetermined position by the coin retaining member in the operative position and released in the inoperative position of the coin retaining member, and a coin box to hold the coins released.

13. A coin-actuated time-controlled electric switching device comprising a clock mechanism. a coin controlled apparatus having a plurality of coin slots, a switch block forming one side of each coin slot and having an electric switch contained therein, an independently movable switch lever associated with each slot, means to move coins deposited in each slot into predetermined positions to hold said levers in switch operating position, and a member movable to operative or inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism and cooperating with each of said levers to retain coins in predetermined positions when said member is in operative position and to release the coins when in inoperative position.

14. A coin-actuated timecontrolled electric switching device, comprising a clock mechanism,

' inoperative position under control of the clock mechanism and cooperating with each of said switch blocks to retain coins in predetermined positions when said member is in operative position and to release the coins when in inoperative position.

v SAMUEL LEE MILLER. 

